This Could Be Awkward…

A reader sent this invitation to an upcoming fundraiser being held for Rep. Bob Turner at the home of former Manhattan GOP Chairwoman/National GOP Committeewoman Jennifer Saul Rich.

The event is scheduled for Thursday, March 29. Prices range from $1,000 a ticket to a commitment to raise $10,000.

I wrote that headline because this event was clearly put together prior to the congressman’s decision to throw his hat into the ring against Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.

State Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long, who is not at all happy about Turner’s latest political endeavor, is a member of the host committee. So is state GOP Chairman Ed Cox, who says he’s remaining neutral in what’s shaping up to be a multiple-candidate primary, is also on the committee.

The rest of the committee is made up of a number of usual NYS GOP suspects, including businessman Randy Altschuler, who is making a second attempt at unseating Democratic Rep. Tim Bishop in Long Island’s NY-1 this fall. (He’s also facing a primary challenge for the second election cycle in a row from George Demos).

Also on the committee is former Giuliani administration attorney Juan Reyes, who was the preferred candidate of the Queens GOP to run for ex-Rep. Anthony Weiner’s seat in the 2011 NY-9 special election. Eventually, the GOP and Conservatives settled on Turner, and the rest, as they say, is history.